Thursday, July 22, 2010

Lets face it - we, netizens are not experts in flooding. However, it does not take experts to figure out that what Amy Khor said about the Marina Barrage alleviating floods('preventing a bigger disaster' were her exact words) is inconsistent with the way the barrage works during low tide when the crest gates have to be opened. We were told it was once in 50 years rainfall, then debris in drains, then later that morphed into the Stamford Canal not being wide enough. Yesterday, MM Lee said that the floods were due to 'extraordinary rainfall' and cannot be avoided. That high rainfall cause floods is obvious but if that is the main cause why haven't the flood prone low lying areas just north of Singapore i.e. in Johor had any floods in recent weeks? Is it possible that heavy rain just fall intensely onto our tiny little red dot leaving nearby areas like Johor dry? The ordinary Singaporean may not be an expert but he can tell when he is given an incorrect explanation and he can generate intelligent questions that he wants answered.

This is a picture of the areas in Singapore that has been flooded[Google Map Link] courtesy of Kojakbt:

I urge you not to jump into various conclusions how ever logical and obvious as they may seem because we are not experts and cannot prove anything rigorously without more data - there are also other plausible explanations e.g. underground works and construction have affected the flow of underground water. The authorities have created many convenient explanations that seems to put blame away from themselves ..and changed them along the way when the older explanations cannot fit the new observations - once in 50 years rainfall, debris in drain, etc. That is not the way to win confidence and reassure the public. There are people who have suffered serious damage to property and business who deserve better answers.

Hahahaha, think being an MP in Singapore needs to tell lies without blinking! I just wonder if these MPs could go to bed soundly without feeling stupid or they are being conditioned to believe whatever rubbish their master tells them!

yah, testimony of the dinosaur's value to his ministers. then pls ask his miniters to foot the dinosaur's $4 million salary themselves.

methinks it's a slap on the old man's face when rains came this morning amidst the sycophantic report that he claimed it's not possible to remove floods.

also, you can be sure that pub is working furiously behind the scenes to remove the problem while mm tries to manage our expectations. pap won't want to see flooding in orchard becos that will affect property prices.

To some extent, there is some truth to every logical causes. So MM, often well adviced, doesn't fail in that aspect much. Thus, the most logical conjecture outside of a full investigation is he had commented.The usual PaP style to avert blame is to have the old man deliver the final and authority words of wisdom.

MM is telling the truth when he said this the recent floods is due to ACT OF GOD.

You see all these years he thinks that he and the cabinet ministers are god. Hence, when the Yakult minister and other ministers failed to perform it is correct to say that they are due to act of god because they think that they are god.

The more the papist continue to response to Singaporeans in this way, the worst it will be for the papist. They are so out of touch that they just don't know what the fuck is happening on the ground. Tragic thing is those in the party who has a food feel of the ground are sidelined.

aiyah, if cannot solve all the flood at lease solve one...just one area...our shopping paradise mah. Try try also must or orchard rd will end up ......can be shopping hell soon in all the travel books and tour commentaries.when that happens hor....not only low lying properties value drop like aging ministers falling hair...our shopping paradise may also go that way...ho ho ho ho

Could it be that now he is convinced that the barrage is the culprit but he is not willing to change his pet project? So he is just being frank that you have to live with it and don't waste your time expecting any changes. I am going to flood-proof my car soon so that I can have a duck-tour when Orchard Road is flooded again.

Hilarious! We should have some Yes Minister kind of show here. Keeps our sanity. On a more serious note, it is not speculation to say that primary cause is water runoff from build up area going into drain instead of the ground. And slower outflow at the barrage as pointed out by numerous posters. So the politicians are not incorrect to say that it is inevitable. But I think if we have the will, the flooding can be resolved. Widen the drains and review the timing of outflow. dt

I wonder what the FT's would think of our government who gave these kind of comments to their own citizens. Do you think they would still be keen to give up their own citizenship and become part of us? Welcome FT's, we will be in the same boat going down the Orchard Road.

I went to see the Marina barrage and noticed there are giant submersible pumps pumpinf excessive water out. (hence no need to open the flood gate all the time) BUT BUT BUT...from the pump noise I heard, it seems that there are not the GERMAN QUALITY TYPE.... more like from PRC. NOT all are running and I suspect they may not be all functional???

MM should know the problems, but he probably cant really bash his ministers in public, just like Sir Alex will never slam his players in front of the press. I am sure those involved would have gotten an ear full. One of the problems we are facing now is that no really capable people are coming forward as PAP candidates. Those that are invited for tea are Yes Men or they wanna go into politics for some personally gains, ie director of some GLC & collect bonus.

MM knows the good ones are in private sector & to be honest, if I am earning S$10k above a month, I wont wanna start my political career as just an MP. Why should I give up the pleasure of women & alcohol to be a straight-edge MP? So MM has no choice but to pay top-dollars for these 'talents' but by doing so, he created a group of selfish people that want nothing to do with us peasants, but lots of to with their own interest!

Take a look at the ministers we have now. LSS couldnt speak probably & yet he is a minister; dont you think any of the Opposition speaks better than him? WKS screwed up so many things from MAS's escape to Wang Na's killer walking across the Causway to freedom; there are just too many silly mistakes he's making & to be honest, WKS would have been fired if he's working in the private sector. Last but not least is our PM, I find that LHL is such a weakling & he's nothing like MM. When MAS disappeared, he also went MIA! He is the head of Singapore & he should be the first to address the public. He should assure us that all resources will be poured into the serach of this terrorist, but alas, he didnt appear till almost 14 days later. MM has to come out & tick us off by calling us 'Complacent' instead! Yes, it does seem like he is talking to us, but I am sure he meant his ministers. I am not a fan of MM Lee, but I do respect his drive & fight & he did, with the Old Guards & the hard working Singaporeans, made Singapore what she is today. He's trying his best but I guess the days of the A Team are gone & he is making do with this team of court jesters, which unfortunately, is led by his son!

When all is well, you can be sure they will be gloating over their achievements, but when things go unduly wrong, nobody among the younger leaders seems confident or capable enough to deal with it, and must always end up bringing out the old man to quell the critics.

Do we really have the best there is to lead us forward? I am beginning to have serious doubts, looking at their performance over the last couple of years, and it seems to be getting into the same pattern of 'inviting the god' to bring peace to the land.

Contrary to what the resident god said, Papers reported that drainage and improvement works will be carried out in several areas which includes central districts.So what Mm probably meant to say was, don't expect a 100% cure due to land and con-structure constrain.

I would really prefer if they could just say that it is not acceptable to have such floods, but they are not sure at this point why this is happening and they will study carefully and solve the problem. Instead they jump to a conclusion, then another, then another. You know why this is happening? My guess is minister asking for immediate answers and nobody dare to say we don't know so they are in panic mode and talk cock. That's the problem with a top-down system like ours.

The minister alluded the flood to the Stamford canal for not flowing fast enough. Maybe they should consider getting our ....ahem....poly student to design a water jet engine or propeller(stratigically located) to speed up the flow of water. I have seen this idea used in basement parking for moving heat and stale air. Maybe we could modify the engine to adapt( above or in water) to our drainage system? Hey, could even be the cheapest,fastest and easiest solution. Bestest too. :)

From Lonely Planet:- Singapore is a sunny and beautiful island with its busiest and well-known shopping belt, Orchard Rd, flooded in the months of June and July.............From Starbuck:-do come and enjoy your endless serving of latte at our Orchard Outlet, Liat Tower.........

Well, know who's gonna foot all those bills for the damages incurred due to the floods.. The peasants.. Yes, car insurance premiums are going up because of the flood, see today's straits times.

See, in singapore, the authorities didn't do a good job, and the citizens end up paying.. Just wondering whether the widow of Mr. Chua Loong Wai will be able to get any "compensations" from the authorities..

This is what I've heard that the Marina Barrage was actually LKY's idea.

LKY was actually very proud of his idea cause he felt that by damming the rivers and forming reservoirs would help make Singapore independent of water supply from MY. He wanted to leave a legacy behind so that future Singaporeans would remember him as having "save" Singapore, making Singapore self-sufficient of water.

But alas, little did he know that it creates another problem - flooding...